Helping the old man~

Howdy, folks! Name's Jenna, and I'm chilling up in Washington state with my country grandfather. He's been living out here in Graham (...The non-locals might know it better as "Ho-Dunk") for the past 36 years as he tells it. And all this time, he's had some outdoor pick-power. To my understanding, this was originally in the form of a Ford bulldozer, but right now he's reliant on an Oliver 1255 tractor.

Unfortunately, I'll be moving out of state quite soon and will be unable to help the old man around the place. He and my mother will require full use of the charming old smoke-belching beast of a machine. It's got a share of problems, and I was hoping to get some information on how to fix them.

I'm only a college student, and our family isn't rolling around in enough dollar bills to get this Oliver fixed professionally - BUT I do have a full shop at my disposal, including a 12-ton crane and truck ramps strong enough to hold a bull-dozer. It's just a matter of me not knowing where to start and generally lacking experience.

So, any DIY tune-up jockeys, I'd be more than grateful for some advice. <3

The tractor has lost it's power-steering (Something I'm prioritizing because grandpa can barely turn the wheel anymore)

It has a hydraulic bucket that works, but seems lacking in power.

The brakes are going out on it, but still function somewhat.

And I've no idea how long it has been as such, but the thing belches black smoke from it's exhaust pipe. I've no good inclination as to how to fix this issue, as it is a diesel motor. The tune-up hints I've come across strongly imply gasoline engines.

If I could get any one of these things straightened out for this machine, I'm positive that the old man can continue being independent and stubborn as always, thanks in advance to anyone offering advice. I really appreciate it.

English ain't exactly your first language, is it?

Try changing filters first. Plugged air filter can cause excessive smoke. Fuel filters can also affect proper operation. Hydraulic filters may cause the slow hydraulic functions. There may also be a screen on the suction line to the hyd. pump that needs to be cleaned. These are things a professional shop would check first. Do the brake pedals go down a long way? If so they may just need to be adjusted. Good luck with your project.

No, not really. I was raised in a German household down in San Antonio where we spoke very little English. I taught myself well enough to pass the standard tests and not fall behind in school, though. "Ain't" easy, I'll tell you.

Thank you, this was very helpful! I had changed the oil on the thing last year, so I know that filter is fresh - but I wouldn't have thought to check for a hydraulic fluid screen in regards to the power issue. Also, I will look into adjusting the brake pedal. It does have quite a bit of slack between depressing the pedal and getting any reaction from the machine.

Again, thank you. C:

Cliff has you on the right track. Ignore the trolls below.
Change fluids and filters esp if the machines sit out in the weather here. With all our rain, water gets into everything. NAPA or Carquest will have the filters and fluids. I would also recommend Lucas hydraulic system additive.
Nice of you to help the Old Man out!

(quoted from post at 05:38:50 06/22/11) No, not really. I was raised in a German household down in San Antonio where we spoke very little English. I taught myself well enough to pass the standard tests and not fall behind in school, though. "Ain't" easy, I'll tell you.

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Bein from Texas, did you say things like "guten tag y'all, wie geht es iiiihnen"????

Hope you get your things fixed up good.

(quoted from post at 05:08:28 06/22/11) English ain't exactly your first language, is it?

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There's nothing like an intelligent and helpful response.. And that was sure nothing like one....... Why am I not surprised???

There is an Oliver Forum on this website. Just look up above at the menu. Some of the guys over there have been working on Olivers since they were three years old but they would never "soil themselves" by coming over to this forum. Also, there's a website called "Oliver Guys". I don't know much about that one, though.

Better composition, grammar, spelling, and syntax than 66% of our "contributors".
Sorry I can't help. only diesels I know anything about are the 12v in the Cummins line.

Did you have trouble understanding what the op wrote? It was well written I thought. Sometimes you can be so crass..........

Pay no heed to some of the buzzman types on this forum!!! Were not all buttholes!!

Do you have an "Owners Manual"? If not, get one.
Next, if you"re going to tear into things deeper,
get a "Shop", or, "Service Manual", so you"ll
know where to look for things like a hydraulic
system inlet, or suction screen. Next, find out where the power steering gets its pressure from.
Does it have its own pump, like on a car, or does
it get power from the system pump? Finally, all hydraulic systems have a definate life! For instance...Most "Char-Lynn", model H, S, and
2000 series hydraulic motors have an average life of 2000 hours...it says that right in the
factory literature...Sooo, if the hydraulic
system is getting weak, the pump/pumps could
just be old and getting worn out. How may hours
are on the tractor? all of your problems could be
age related!

you can probably do most of the work yourself, the first thing is get a service manuel for the tractor, you granddad may have one already, it will tell you step by step how to adjust the brakes, where the filters are ect, may enjoy some time with him by fixing the old oliver up with him too

sounds like you only changed the oil filter, find and change the AIR filter

Cliff and Chris have covered most things.

Power steering: I don't have an Oliver but I have a Long which is the same Fiat design. There is a power steering filter in mine which is inside the power steerting reservoir. It is steel mesh designed to be cleaned out. Usually washing out with kerosene or cleaner, then blowing out with air and allowing to dry is sufficient. I would drain and replace the power steering fluid.

The power steering pump may be failing. The only cure is to replace for big bucks. At the base of the steering wheel is a power steering hydromoter which looks like the power steering pump. It may fail and also costs to replace.
Is the power steering just hard to steer or does it wander, requiring constant turning of the wheel? If it wanders, there is a valve problem which I have never fixed, except by replacing the hydromoter.

Black smoke under acceleration may be caused by worn injectors. If the tractor cranks easily I would put the injectors last on the list, but bad injectors do use more fuel. You have to find a place that rebuilds injectors, then take the injectors out and have them tested. If bad, they can be rebuilt.

At the front of the tractor behind the grill there is an oil bath air cleaner, if the 1255 is like the others of that type. Faulty design IMO because the fan pulls dirty air by the air intake. The oil bath cleaner is packed with steel wool and gets very dirty, requiring the soaking in kerosene routine and bloing it out with air. AFTER DOING THIS, LET THE PACKING SIT OVERNIGHT SO THAT ALL CLEANING FLUID EVAPORATES OUT. IF YOU REINSTALL IT AND START IT IMMEDIATELY, THE REMAINING FUMES ARE AN UNCONTROLLED SUPPLY OF FUEL AND THE ENGINE WILL REV UP UNCONTROBALLY AND MAY BLOW THE ENGINE.
Also, the air intake shroud may become clogged with crud which closes down the air entrance. Clean out the mess with a screwdriver and wash, allowing to dry overnight also.
The symptoms of the clogged air filter are loss of power and maybe smoking. Motor won't rev up smoothly to full power.

The hydraulic oil filter on the right side of the motor in a line going to the hydraulic pump from the transmission may be a steel mesh filter or may be a spin off filter which is repleaceable, I'm not sure on that tractor. If steel mesh and it hasen't been cleaned or replaced in a long time, it may have to be replaced. If not too dirty it can be cleaned, perhaps by boiling in water with a strong cleaner in it.

Hope this helps.

KEH

I don't believe anyone ask for a grammer lesson.

What a curious thing to say. Tactless, of course, under any circumstance, but I went back and re-read the lady's post, and found no indication of lack of English proficiency.

Some folks are just trolls, I guess, with no reasonable explanation.

Hey! I resent that. We've five 1850's, one 2150FWMD.
Not familiar with 1255 I can't help. So, if you want to get up in the world come on over for some proper edge-a-makeing!
(grin)
Fernan

Dave, I actually had a long post typed out with a lot of information on an Oliver 1255...then I got to thinking, "What if this is some sort of scammer out there trying to simply "get their jollies," for whatever reason, at the expense of the tractor folks?"

So I deleted the original long post before sending, and ask a simple question, trying to see what kind of person we were dealing with here. I'm pleased with the response I got from the original poster. I've just seen so much from spammers and scammers on boards like this that I wanted to draw th person out...if they were decent and sincere, it would come out, and if they were into spam and scam, that'd be obvious, too.

I used to be a trusting person...but Gullible doesn't live here any more. So let's not make this out to be more than what it actually was, Dave...thanks.

Regardless of what ever excuse you try to make up, it was uncalled for. If you thought it might be a spammer, why respond in the first place? It wasn't a simple question. Most people would take it as a sarcastic comment rather than a legitimate question. What's decent and sincere about that? Speaking of english, I guess it ain't your first language either. You owe Jenna an apology.

Import Tractor up in Ontario can fix you up with any information and parts you need for your Oliver Fiat.If you have any problems finding his website shoot me an email.

While I do not appreciate the original comment made by Buzz, it hasn't really bothered me. I will accept the pseudo-apology for my pseudo-annoyance. I believe it is fair to let him off of the hook and not bother ourselves commenting on this further. After all, there's room on the internet for all of us, yes? C:


As to everyone else, my gods, thank you! I'm very impressed with how many of you came forward with help so quickly! Reading through the comments, I made a list of things to look over. Lo- and behold, many of the wire mesh filters were getting clogged (washed them out as instructed-left them to dry as well before reinstalling) and a bottle of injector cleaner gave the engine new life. There were some other minor things going on with the beast - mostly small leaks, but a majority of the problems have vanished!

The only thing that didn't see some real improvement was the power steering, but I've located that problem in the o-rings. Turns out shredded rubber makes for a poor seal. *chuckle*
At least I've rebuilt cylinders before-one problem a girl can handle on her own (Go figure.)

THANKS AGAIN, EVERYONE! Pat yerself on the back - you've done the job of a "head mechanic"! (You know, "point and instruct".)

(quoted from post at 23:32:22 06/21/11) Howdy, folks! Name's Jenna, and I'm chilling up in Washington state with my country grandfather. He's been living out here in Graham (...The non-locals might know it better as "Ho-Dunk") for the past 36 years as he tells it. And all this time, he's had some outdoor pick-power. To my understanding, this was originally in the form of a Ford bulldozer, but right now he's reliant on an Oliver 1255 tractor.

Unfortunately, I'll be moving out of state quite soon and will be unable to help the old man around the place. He and my mother will require full use of the charming old smoke-belching beast of a machine. It's got a share of problems, and I was hoping to get some information on how to fix them.

I'm only a college student, and our family isn't rolling around in enough dollar bills to get this Oliver fixed professionally - BUT I do have a full shop at my disposal, including a 12-ton crane and truck ramps strong enough to hold a bull-dozer. It's just a matter of me not knowing where to start and generally lacking experience.

So, any DIY tune-up jockeys, I'd be more than grateful for some advice. &lt;3

The tractor has lost it's power-steering (Something I'm prioritizing because grandpa can barely turn the wheel anymore)

It has a hydraulic bucket that works, but seems lacking in power.

The brakes are going out on it, but still function somewhat.

And I've no idea how long it has been as such, but the thing belches black smoke from it's exhaust pipe. I've no good inclination as to how to fix this issue, as it is a diesel motor. The tune-up hints I've come across strongly imply gasoline engines.

If I could get any one of these things straightened out for this machine, I'm positive that the old man can continue being independent and stubborn as always, thanks in advance to anyone offering advice. I really appreciate it.

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irst thing i,d try is cleaning the air breather, lack of power and blk smoke should should disappear//